Panipat, June 13
The alleged embezzlement and misuse of development funds worth Rs 1.23 crore has come to fore in the Ward 6 of Panipat Municipal Corporation. Taking action on the matter, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has directed the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to look into the matter.
Following the direction, DC Sushil Kumar Sarwan has constituted a special five-member committee led by SDM, Panipat, to inquire into the issue.
The committee also includes PWD B&R Executive Engineer (XEN), Public Health XEN, MC XEN and Accounts Officer DC office.
The matter was brought to light by former Mayor Suresh Verma who had filed a complaint to the CM mentioning the corrupt practices. The former mayor in his complaint said the MC had allotted the work orders of four development projects in the Ward 6 worth Rs 1.23 crore — which were individually worth 9.71 lakh, Rs 43 lakh, Rs 42.37 lakh and Rs 28.82 lakh — to four separate construction companies. He added that the payment of these projects had been made to the contractors by the civic body authorities during 2021-22 but no work was done on the ground.
The former mayor added that the contractors with the connivance of the MC officials produced fake bills which were passed without inspection on the ground. He also accused the officials of taking huge commissions.
He then demanded an inquiry by an IAS-level official and technical officials of other departments such as PWD B&R, Irrigation Department, Marketing Department and others. The deputy commissioner, Sushil Sarwan, said,
“I have directed the committee to submit the inquiry report within a week. After the committee submits the report, action will be initiated accordingly.”
